Sunday, August 25, 2013

As I mentioned in my last post, I couldn't find a presentation that met my needs for meeting Common Core English Language Arts Standards » Speaking& Listening » Grade 8, so I created one. Actually, I made two. This is the second one and the foldable that goes with it. As my class goes through it, discussing it, they will take notes in a foldable, which they will then add to their interactive journals.

I wish I had some new and fabulous foldable design to share, but I went with the tried and true layered design because it can hold so much info.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

I couldn't find a presentation that
met my needs for meeting Common Core English Language Arts Standards » Speaking
& Listening » Grade 8, so I created one. As my class goes through it,
discussing it, they will take notes in a foldable, which they will then add to
their interactive journals.

This is the foldable they will create. The cover template came from HERE.

Below, you will see
photos of the foldable while I was making my sample. I am a visual
person. Messy writing, particularly mine, drives me nuts. I also
spend a great deal of energy explaining to my students that first impressions
count, and when it comes to their work, that often means their
handwriting/neatness. Even most of my poor-handwriting students slow down
and try to give their best once they realize this fact. Anyhow, I created
the lined portion. Students could have just used the lines in their
notebooks, but many of my students bought wide-lined notebooks instead of
narrow. They would not fit all the info in on the wide lines so making
something I know will work for all of them seemed my best option. I
printed the cover, measured it, and created a back that was sized to
match.

As for the cover,
again, I don't like mess. I show my students how to lightly pencil in
guide lines that show them where to write.

I hope this helps
those of you who will also be working to meet this Common Core learning
standard.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

For the past couple of days, I have been working on setting up example, interactive notebooks for language arts and reading.For the first week of school, my students will be setting their notebooks up and creating some pages that tap into background knowledge and (hopefully) help them take ownership of and pride in their notebooks.

I figured I would share how we are starting the reading
notebook.The students will have to
create a cover for it that titles it as their interactive reading
notebook.They can draw it, write it, or
create it on their computers.(I am very
lucky.My district has a laptop
initiative that allows every student from 6th grade through 12th grade have a
school-owned laptop to use at school and at home.It has a VERY low initial fee and a contract
that governs usage and a $100 deductable should the student damage the
laptop.Most families take the district
up on this deal.I also have two laptops
in my room that students, who were unable to afford the plan, may use.Thus, the only students that really do not
have computer access are those that lose the right through misuse of their
laptop from a prior year.)

The Last 10 Books I Read, where students will reflect on the books they have read most recently.
My Reading Timeline, where students will reflect on the books that have shaped their lives.

I Read Because... will help students consider the reasons they read.

My Heart Map helps students identify what is important to them so they can use it as criteria for picking books.

The first 4 pages are set up as a table of contents.Then, the students will create some pages
that demonstrate their reading background and allow them some creativity to
make their notebook theirs.None of these
page idea are mine.I came across them on
Pinterest, and they are all pinned at various points on my reading board.Some have been slightly
modified for my grade-level or preferences, but others are exactly as the
originators designed them.The pages
with book images were printed on my home printer.My students will have the option of printing
at their homes in color or on our grade-level printer in black and white.The "I Read Because..." page uses
random scrapbook papers I have collected over the years punched with a 1 1/2
inch circle punch.The timeline is made
using blue masking tape I had leftover from a painting job.Finally, the cover art/title was sealed using
packing tape so it can stand up to the use it is going to receive.For the covers, I used backgrounds by http://www.etsy.com/shop/beartless
and a digi font by http://www.etsy.com/shop/kpmdoodles.

I hope to get photos of the language arts notebook up soon, and I need to finish a few more pages that will be part of setting up the reading one too.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Here are the Common Core Standards for 8th grade English/Language Arts as I will display them in my classroom. They are printed two to a page, but I separated them before laminating so I could hang the one (or multiples) on which my class is focused each day.
The boarder is from BeArtless, and the font is Champagne & Limousines.
You can download a copy of it HERE.

permission to pin

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About Me

I was a 4th grade teacher, but I am moving to 8th grade language arts next year. I am also mother to an amazing kiddo dual diagnosed as high functioning Autistic and gifted, who is in high school. I've been married to my best friend for almost 22 years. Although I am a teacher, I am also a life-long learner, and I adore reading and writing as much as I adore teaching them. I get excited by new ideas and creative thinking, which is why I keep this blog and am often found on Pinterest!